2009/03/29

There are several interesting facts about this spring season. First with the exception of FMA, Hayate and Polyphonica, all other series are new. Another noteworthy fact is that all series are adaptions from manga, novels or games with Eden and Basquash as the only exceptions! As for my expectations ... mediocre, traditionally spring has been the season for the masses (aka male, chaste, teenager geeks). The thing is that the only shows I am watching from winter and continue are Regios and SoraKake, so I guess I'll try everything (even hardcoreshoujo, mecha basketball and noitaminA).

After losing their mother, Alphonse and Edward Elric attempt to bring her back using the forbidden science of human alchemy. However, alchemy operates on the theory of equivalent trade, and breaking the human alchemy taboo carries a heavy price. Ed loses his leg, and Al loses his body. Ed is able to seal Al's soul inside of a huge suit of armor, at the cost of his arm. Years later, Ed (now with two mechanical limbs) and Al (still trapped in the armor) leave their childhood home, each brother concerned with the other's happiness. Ed, who has a natural talent and skill for alchemy, becomes nationally certified and is soon known everywhere as the "Fullmetal Alchemist." Their true objective is to search for any information on the fabled Philosopher's Stone, hoping it will allow them to regain their old bodies. All of their hopes rest with this mythical stone, which may not even exist at all. However, the brothers soon learn that they are not the only ones after the powerful stone.

Five years after the original ended BONES decides to remake it, probably because the manga is about to end (which is an unverified rumor). Anyway, almost all the technical stuff is different, but given the popularity and extent of the source plot-wise it shouldn't diverge too much. I expect top quality animation as was the case with most of the studio's projects, but I am really worried with the storytelling, since the person responsible has several fails in the past. Finally, I should admit that I liked the previous adaption, despite being a shounen ... at least at some points it certainly made me forget it!

16-year-old Hayate is really down on his luck. Because his unemployed parents are good-for-nothings who waste what money they have on gambling, Hayate had to start working at a young age to help out his family. Although such experience has made him inhumanly fast and tough and skilled at things boys aren't normally skilled it, it has also left him in an awkward position, as his parents have racked up such a huge gambling debt that they have sold Hayate to the yakuza for the value of his organs. In a desperate attempt to avoid that fate, Hayate decides to become a “bad guy” and kidnap someone to be held for ransom, but his efforts to do so are mistaken as a confession of love by the girl he targets. When he helps save the (as it turns out) ultra-wealthy 13-year-old Nagi from real kidnappers, she takes him in and gives him a job as her new personal butler (and love interest) until he can pay off his debt. But Hayate is more attracted to Nagi's beautiful teenage maid Maria, and head butler Klaus is initially disapproving of the boy with such a poor look. And then there's Nagi's pet Tama, who is also a force to be reckoned with.

For a better insight just go and download the the OVA! I really loved the first season, if for no other reason because the fillers were very well thought of and the pacing was quite successful (not an easy task with 50 episodes). But now with a new studio, which has a shameful reputation for its failure at fillers, things look somewhat alarming. Fortunately series composition is at the hands of the same person with the first season; as for the rest of the staff, they have done quite a lot of good shows. The OVA or episode S2E0, is a good indication of what the show has to offer.

The manga features a series of short stories about eight girls in middle school and high school, plus their classmates and relatives. Each chapter focuses on a different main characters. These stories are entertwined and eventually lead to a main story involving most of the cast.

The second show this season from J.C.Staff, this time a romance from the author of hated Ichigo 100% (which personally I do not find it that bad, rather mediocre ... probably because of the related NishiMIDI doujinshi). Now given that all stuff have next to zero track record, I have no idea what to expect.

The story is set in a neo-futuristic age, in which Tokyo has turned into the world’s largest “jungle-polis” that absorbs carbon dioxide. A tower city called Atlas houses the rich and privileged, and is the object of yearning of all that are not allowed to enter. But Atlas also has ancient secrets which cause a sudden whirl of events. Festooned by colorful characters such as a riotous teenage girl, a child genius, a juvenile princess, a drag queen, a female doctor, an army major, and an elderly gentleman and lady, SHANGRI-LA’s hard-core world view plays out as an anime action saga.

Now let me proceed to the GONZO shows, starting with their green-left rip-off! What to expect from the worst japanese studio about to fire 75% of its personnel, a stuff composed of a group of newbies, except from Ounogi, who failed several time to pace properly a show?

Saki Miyanagi, a high school freshman, hates mahjong because her family would always force her to play it and punish her regardless of if she won or lost. Because of this, she learned how to keep her score at zero, neither winning nor losing. However, her friend from middle school convinces her to join the school's Mahjong Club. After the Club discovers her ability, they recruit her and convince her to win instead of breaking even. She easily does so with her skill, so the team enters a mahjong tournament so that its members may reach the national competitions.

Adapted from the MMORPG Arad Senki originally developed in South Korea under the name Dungeon & Fighter. The anime will follow the adventures of Baron, a man living on continent of Arad in the year 981 after "the cursed light of Kazan" has fallen across the land. Thanks to the curse, one of his arms has become possessed. After finding a sword that has been possessed by the spirit Roxy, he embarks on a quest to unravel the secret of the curse and meets various people who also join his party.

And since the previous two GONZO shows will rape a novel and a manga, to complete things this show will have its way with a game (the worst kind of ... a MMORPG). Again pretty much unknown stuff under GONZO is a recipe for failure.

In 4 years time the competition that will decide who the next Queen shall be will start. The strongest warrior will continue to rule the country according to tradition and expand it. The contestants need only be older than 12 years. They need not be human, intelligent or even of that country. The rules for the tournament are simple: murder is allowed. Any weapon can be chosen. The winner is decided when one of the participants flees or can't move anymore. Such event is broadcasted trough a crystal sphere by the court's magic teacher to all population to see and enjoy.

Probably the best studio and stuff for this kind of show! Check my previous entry for more in-depth information.

In the 1930's EC, Europa is split by the Empire and the Federation, the two dominant military powers that divide the continent. The two powers struggled for ultimate supremacy, inevitably starting the E.W.II (Second Europan War) involving all of Europa. Gallia, a small independent nation situated between the two super powers now faces attacks from the Imperial Army due to its availability of Ragnite. The Gallian Army is overmatched by the Imperial forces and must retreat quickly. But just when the nation was about to surrender its capital city, one squad leader's unusual strategy defeats the Imperial Army. The name of that young lieutenant was Welkin Gunther and this is his story.

After the MMO- and TT- RPG, let's move to an adaption of a S-RPG, which has a long track of failures, including one from this studio (Persona). Animation and character designs look very good though and the responsibility for pacing falls to a person that has pulled out the job successfully in the past. On the other hand, the story itself does not look very promising.

In the age of the Warring Countries, Japan was fragmented in semi-independent provinces, governed by feudal lords or daimyo, who confronted each other in an endless struggle for power. Ambitious daimyos from every corner of the Archipelago had shouted their battle cry. Those were days of unrest and chaos. As war spread throughout the country, the map of power underwent rapid and dramatic changes. In this never-ending conflict, one man finally seemed to be just one step from establishing total control over the country. He was the lord of Owari, the Sixth Heavenly Devil King. His name was Oda Nobunaga. But now, a young general clad in azure makes his unexpected appearance in this confused scenario, heading a huge army of cavalrymen from the Northern provinces. He is known as Date Masamune, the One-Eyed Dragon. And he is coming for Oda Nobunaga's head, and for ultimate supremacy!

The game is CAPCOM's rip-off of Dynasty Warriors, basically changing from Chinese history to Japanese. Anyway, not my thing ... the adaption looks too shounen for me and the stuff is certainly uninspiring.

After a Demon King named Arawn who was sealed away for 1,000 years is being relaesed by girl named Rhiannon (who is made for sacrifice for his ressurection) releases him, they start to travel together and she becomes emotionally attached to him.

From the Utawarerumono team we get yet another RPGish show (actually the game was a VN with some impossibly stupid battle system). Anyway, for what concerns the game everyone finds it boring, plot-wise, myself included. Hence I do not expect anything more from its adaption.

In the land of Nospherus, four heroes embark on a patch of destiny that will weave a new legend. The story follows Guin, a powerful swordsman with a leopard head, the adolescent royal twins Remus and Rinda, and the young and ambitious mercenary named Istvan.

Based on a novel series spanning more than 100 volumes, that begun publishing in 1979! Produced by the studio that spawned abominations like Macross and the adaption is overseen by the writer of Pokemon. Not to mention the the tiger-headed dude looks gay!

The story about four high school girls that try to sustain their school’s popular music club despite being unable to read music or play instruments.

The only show that KyoAni has produced and I can safely suggest is Haruhi, probably I got tired from a 50 episode series that focused for a third time around the same characters and what worse each time they double the episode count [1st][2nd][3rd]. Now, back on topic. the manga has only a couple of volumes out and the pacing is handled by that idiot who butcheredKurokami last season with three (maybe four) times the source material to work with. On the other hand, it can end up so bad that it becomes good, like Sucky Star and Munto ;)

The new series will again focus on Corticarte, but it will tie into Ichiro Sakaki and Noboru Kannatsuki's Shinkyoku Sōkai Polyphonica crimson S light novel adaptation, which are set during the Academy years of the storyline.

Apart from the fact that is based on a popular VN series with which I am unfamiliar and that the summary sounds very silly; I have no idea what to expect. I heard that the previous season was quite boring, but then again it shares next to zero stuff with this one.

Thirteen-year-old Yasaka is a boy staying at his grandfather's house during his summer vacation. One day he entered a store and met Arashi, a beautiful sixteen-year old girl working there. After trying to protect her from a man who claims to have been hired by her family to take her back by force, Yasaka ran away with her and now she stays at his grandpa's place with him. It didn't take much time for Yasaka to figure out that his new friend is far from an ordinary girl, as she possesses mysterious powers. The plot thickens when he finds a sixty-year-old picture of Arashi and another girl named Kaja, and to the surprise of all Kaja suddenly appears, and just like Arashi, her appearance hasn't changed at all since then.

SHAFT's show this season is based on the new manga of Kobayashi Jin, who gave us School Rumble, which I hated since in 20+ volumes it managed to go absolutely nowhere, but loved because of the loveable characters. Source aside, the chief director is Oonuma of ef, with Shinbo on the side-watch. Also noteworthy is Takayama's involvement who managed to create an excellent adaption out of a mediocre manga (Ga-Rei), which will probably come into play considering the minimal amount of source material to work with.

On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be called as "Careless Monday," does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon forgotten by almost everyone. Then, 3 months later... Saki Morimi is a young woman currently in the United States of America on her graduation trip. But just when she is in front of the White House, Washington DC, she gets into trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her. However, this man, who introduces himself as Akira Takizawa, is a complete mystery. He appears to have lost his memory. and he is stark naked, except for the gun he holds in one hand, and the mobile phone he's holding with the other hand. A phone that is charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash.

Another noitaminA show ... which with a couple of exceptions I found them impossible to watch. Then again studio and stuff are quite promising as was also the trailer.

Oz Bezarius, heir to one of the duke houses, has just turned fifteen. His life is rich and carefree, darkened only by the constant absence of his father. At his coming-of-age ceremony, however, everything changes. For no reason that he can discern, he's cast into the prison known as the "Abyss", only to be saved by a "chain" known as Alice, the bloodstained black rabbit. Why was he cast into Abyss, how does Alice factor into it all, and what does the organization known as "Pandora" want with him...

The plot certainly has potential and is not something I would expect from this studio. It's important to note that the music is done by Kajiura Yuki (Rakyo, Noir, ...)!

In the American underworld, Mafia leaders are being killed one after another, with rumours of “Inferno” and the organisation’s top assasssin “Phantom” circulating around them. A boy, traveling alone in America becomes involved in one of these incidents and unexpectedly encounters Phantom

Quoting Arudoc: "Bee Train doing a show about girls and guns. Now where have I seen that before?" I do not mind the studio's slow pacing or obsession with the theme ... actually I liked most of their series.

Set in a gothic fantasy world, this is the story of Teito Klein, an orphaned slave who became the top military academy student. However, an unexpected turn of events left him pursued by the forces of the Barsburg Empire. Now an escaping convict, Teito's sheltered by the church and it’s law of sanctuary. Here, he discovered many mysteries surrounding himself, the church, and the Empire itself. The fact that he might be connected to a dethroned king and the mystical stone of god, 'The Eye of Mikhael' made him the target of the empire more than ever. Fortunately the church is under the mythical 7 Ghost protection. But who are the Ghosts really. Will Teito be free from the military's clutch, And what of his said mission to uncover the history. And who is the military's Chief-of-Staff Ayanami exactly. Teito's future seems to have spiraled into an unexpectedly perilous path.

Studio and stuff just work on anything, so they offer no indication of what to expect. My fears come from the summary and trailer which reminded me of that gay-fest, Kyou Kara Maou!

It's the second anime series broadcast in the Fuji TV network’s late night “NOISE” time slot, following the end of the current Michiko to Hatchin television series. The manga, originally serialized from 2005-2006, illustrates the life of Nicoletta, a young woman that becomes an apprentice in a restaurant in Rome owned by her father in law.

Hanasakeru Seishonen is the story of a half-Japanese heiress transplanted from her ordinary high school days in Japan to a life in America filled with intrigue involving international oil and wealth distribution. The manga was originally published as a two part story in 1987, then expanded into a longer series published from 1989 to 1994. Natsumi Itsuki is the creator of manga series including Jyu Oh Sei, Yakumo Tatsu (Eight Clouds Rising), and OZ, which have previously been adapted into anime.

On the planet Earthdash, its inhabitants gaze on its moon and the technologically advanced lunar city of Mooneyes with awe. Dan JD, a boy living in Rollingtown on Earthdash’s surface, gets caught up in Bigfoot Basketball — a fast-paced sport played with giant Bigfoot robots.

...and mecha playing basketball, maybe people some should just trash their aspirations at originality ;)

In the distant future, a polluted world has been overtaken by havoc-wreaking creatures called filth monsters. Humanity, having been forced to relocate itself, must live in isolated mobile cities called Regios. A mysteriously skilled fighter named Layfon Alseif enrolls in the Academy city of Zuellni and is immediately noticed by Nina Antalk, leader of the 17th Military Arts Unit. He then reluctantly joins her squad, uncertain of what future awaits him and his new teammates within the city as well as the impending dangers in the midst of a plagued world.

The first half was unexpectedly both interesting and watchable, despite the Dune/Third rip-off. Certainly a watch if not an exciting one for the spring season ;-)

The story is set in the year 311 of the Orbital Calendar, when humanity has migrated to countless colony clusters in space. A space colony girl named Akiha Shishidou encounters a malevolent artificial intelligence named Leopard that has been installed on a colony. Akiha is joined by an Inter-Colony Police officer named Itsuki Kannagi, a taciturn young girl named Honoka Kawai, and a robot named Imoko "Imo-chan" Shishidou.